Monkey starts running, giggling wildly as my essence follows behind him. I release my restraint entirely when the smoke forms a tiny Monkey, playfully blocking August from running into the center table.
August is the only one who has seen both sides of my Divine—the chaotic force and the gentle one that crafts animals from smoke to entertain a little boy.
It was nothing compared to what I can do now, but on nights when I had just enough strength, I used to coax myweak Divine to create a flock of golden birds that flew in circles above August. On those nights, he fell asleep with a smile instead of tear-streaked cheeks.
I used to believe I could only control my Divine because we were both so weak. But maybe my essence has always been on my side. I just couldn’t see it then.
I rein in my Divine, watching as the mist crawls back into me and disappears. August walks through the fading monkey-shaped fog and falls to his knees, laughing until tears stream down his cheeks.
Angel ruffles our son’s hair with a soft smile and opens his arms for me. The excited grin lighting up his face makes my heart leap, and I run straight into his embrace and jump into his arms.
Seeing us wrapped in a hug, August tugs at Angel’s pants, wanting to be picked up so he can be a part of the family hug.
I know Angel will never admit it, but I could see the worry in his eyes each time I struggled to control my essence. Where most people would fear for themselves, seeing my Divine slip from my grasp, all my mate said was, ‘I can take it, sweetheart, just don’t hurt yourself.’
But that moment unlocked a similarity between me and my Divine. We both didn’t want to drag him into our mess. No matter how wild things got, we never let it touch our mate. Angel doesn’t realize it, but his presence forced us to agree on something for once, and it got a little easier to work together after that.
All my life, my Divine has been in control. When I was younger, there was no way for me to be in charge of such power, and after Visha took me, I barely had enough control of my limbs, let alone my Divine.
But with my mate’s constant encouragement and unwavering support, I’m the one in control for the first time in my life. The power radiating from me today is nothing like I’ve ever felt. For the first time, I truly feel like I belong with the Horsemen, and it’s all because of him.
Angel plants a loud kiss on my cheek, telling me how proud he is, prompting August to copy him and kiss my other cheek.
When Khatri arrives to fetch Angel twenty minutes before the council meeting, he tells me to freshen up and warns me not to be late—again—before he leaves.
It’s not my fault the elders and Warriorheads insist on showing upwaytoo early.
As I rush through my shower routine, I do my best not to think about last night and all the ways Angel convinced me to choose him over sleep. I’ve only recently discovered how amazing sleep is, yet I’d gladly lose it for his tongue or fingers between my thighs, making my entire body tremble with pleasure.
I grab the energy bar and the juice bottle Angel left on the bedside table for a quick snack, then head off in search of the conference room.
It’s a little embarrassing that I’ve lived here for three months and still can’t get around without help. And who thought it was a great idea to soundproof the conference room? I can’t even follow a voice like a blind bat.
I peek into a room, expecting yet another dead end, only to find four furious faces glaring at me. I can only describe the energy in the room as ‘I’m going to bury you in my backyard’.
I let out a nervous laugh when none of their expressions soften. Pasting on my most innocent smile, I chirp sweetly, “Sorry, guys, I got lost,” before sliding into the seat beside Angel.
I trail my fingers along the polished circular table, avoiding everyone’s eyes by turning to the view outside the glass dome on the kingdom’s northern edge. For some reason, dark clouds loom over the horizon. It’s not stormy enough to rain, but the chill in the air is sharper than what this realm is used to.
“You got lost for forty minutes?” Seiji asks, his mouth stuffed full of chips.
“On the same floor?” Grace sounds utterly baffled, trying to figure out where I knocked all my brain cells out.
Obviously, in the dungeon, Honeybunch.
“I’m directionally challenged, okay?” I mumble, hiding behind my hair and ignoring their judgmental stares.
“You’reneveron time,” Hazel deadpans in her usual‘I don’t care, but it’s fun to watch’tone.
“Of course I am.”
I have no idea why I’m even defending myself. I know they’re right, they know they are right, but that doesn’t mean I have to admit it.
“We’re always waiting on you. Every meeting, we show up thirty minutesafteryou should already be here, and somehow, you’re still late.” Harvey grins smugly, his eyes sparkling.
“Okay, maybe I have aslightissue with time management, but it’s not entirely my fault.” I turn to Angel with a pout because he’s my last hope.
“Of course, it’s not your fault, sweetheart. How dare we accuse you of such outrageous crimes?”
